A fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has already killed over 131 people, prompting a major international emergency response as health systems come under intense pressure.

According to cbinews.tv, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped in urgently, sending 18 tonnes of life-saving medical supplies to the country as fears grow that the virus could spread further across the region. The shipment includes essential protective gear, tents and hospital beds, sourced from WHO warehouses in Kenya, Senegal and Kinshasa.

The outbreak, which has now surpassed 400 suspected cases, is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola—a variant with no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently available. Health officials say it has already spread beyond the original hotspot in Ituri province, with cases also reported in major cities including Kinshasa and Goma. Even neighbouring Uganda has recorded fatalities linked to cross-border movement.

WHO Africa’s Fatima Tafida confirmed that a logistics base is being set up in Bunia to speed up response efforts, with support from the World Food Programme and possible additional airlifts from Dubai. The WHO has also declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, highlighting the seriousness of the outbreak amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian strain in eastern Congo.

To make matters worse, nearly nine million people in the region are already facing severe hunger, with only a fraction of required health funding currently secured—leaving aid agencies warning that containment efforts could be severely undermined without urgent global support.

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